"Politics, noun. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage."
-Ambrose Bierce
Before I attempt to answer the question, “How would Jesus vote,” let’s talk about how Jesus did vote. He didn’t. While history seems to indicate that voting in some limited capacity took place in the Roman Empire during Augustus Caesar and Tiberius’ reign, Jesus couldn’t vote even if He wanted to. Jesus was not a Roman citizen, just like most of His fellow Jews, which would have been a requirement for voting. In 63 B.C., Rome conquered Israel, putting an end to the Jewish nation (Israel was re-established as a nation in 1948). Moving forward, the Jews were tolerated as a religious group and quasi-governmental entity, provided they didn’t get out of line with the Roman government. What an opportunistic time for Jesus Christ to appear on the scene. He, The Messiah, showed up smack dab in the middle of the Pax Romana to restore the nation of Israel to prominence politically and militarily.
Or not?
The 2000-year-old nation that started with Abraham was in need of a leader to reconstruct their overthrown state. The angel announced Christ’s birth to commonfolk: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord (Lk 2:10-11).” The Anointed One, the Chosen One, an un-registered voter who will bring joy to all the people. Sounds too good to be true, eh?
Not so. The world got what it needed, but not exactly what it was looking for.
By 8:00 pm Pacific time tomorrow, a record 150 million plus Americans will have cast their vote for their candidate in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. This year’s contest has served up the most disappointing preliminary activities I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. No beneficial competitive exchanges, just loathsome diatribes.
From searching the web, here’s what I found written about one of the candidates that’s running for president this year. More specifically, listed are the reasons a person should not vote for this individual. Let’s see if you can guess which candidate it is:
- He lies
- He is unfit for the presidency
- He lacks character
- He lacks compassion
- He appeals to fear
- He has an ego that’s too big
- He does not model altruism
Now it’s clear, right? The truth of the matter is that these statements could apply to either one of them, or perhaps better stated, equally to both of them. Joe Biden is not our savior any more than Donald Trump is, and vice versa. Only Jesus is our Savior.
The angel declared over 2000 years ago, “A Savior has been born to you (Lk 2:11).”’ He didn’t say, “A Democrat has been born to you,” or, “A Republican has been born to you.” Jesus didn’t come to pack a court or build a wall. He came to usher in God’s kingdom; what we needed, not necessarily what we wanted or what we were looking for. God does not ride on the backs of elephants or donkeys. He can accomplish His agenda with or without our two-party system. God sent us a poor, unregistered voter who was not a political leader nor a military warrior.
Tomorrow I’ll be voting for the candidate who I believe will enact the policies that will best support the truth of Scripture and the betterment of life for all people living within our country’s borders and beyond them. For the record, I am not a fan of either of the candidates. This year, more than ever, I’m voting for policies instead of personalities. I won’t be voting because “it’s the Christian thing to do” (by the way the Bible says nothing about who to vote for). I’ll be voting because I care about the freedom and resources that God has entrusted me with as a pilgrim on this planet whose citizenship is in Heaven.
I will vote tomorrow, but I won’t be ecstatic if my candidate wins, nor will I be despaired if he loses. Neither presidential hopeful can, or will, bring peace on earth. Only Jesus can do that. When the final votes are counted in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, followers of Joe Biden and followers of Donald Trump will have gotten what they wanted or what they didn’t want. On the other hand, if we are followers of Christ, we will sometimes get what we want and always get what we need. I’d rather have what I need instead of what I want, any day.
Back to the question, “How would Jesus vote?” It really doesn’t matter. He holds the winning vote, and He provides a way for all of us to be on the winning side. He first came as a suffering Servant, and He will come again as a conquering King, regardless of who wins the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.
Jesus has an agenda, but not a political one. He is not binary; He is singular. He is not bi-partisan; He is partisan. He is for all people, not just conservatives or liberals. His agenda is other-worldly, yet He reigns over this world we live in. We can all seek comfort in knowing that after Tuesday, November 3, 2020, God will still be in control and on His throne.
Play to win this week in the game that really counts!
EXTRA: What does the Bible say about politics?